News Briefs

5/21/2013, Sivan 12, 5773

Sexual Harassment Bill Removes Proof of Harm

A new bill on sexual harassment was approved by the Ministerial Committee for Legislation on Monday. Currently accusers can only collect up to 50,000 shekels in damages if there is no proof that the accuser was harmed. If the accuser wishes to collect more in damages, they must prove in court that harm was caused. The new bill would raise the compensation to 150,000 shekels. The bill was submitted by Member of Knesset Michal Rosin ‏(Meretz‏ party).

In a related measure, on Sunday, the Ministerial Committee for Legislation approved a bill to expand the definition of sexual harassment to include pictures taken and distributed without a person's knowledge or against his or her will. The punishment would be up to five years imprisonment.